Freedman made three changes for last weekend's defeat to Ipswich, taking his tally to 13 alterations in their last three league matches.

The loss ended the Scot's impressive unbeaten run since leaving Crystal Palace to take charge back in October.

"You can look at possible reasons for it [the defeat] but it certainly wasn't anything to do with that," Andrews told BBC Radio Manchester. "We have to hold our hands up. We didn't hit the heights we should have.

"As a player you want to play every game, but with the intensity and the regularity of the games in this league.

"But from a sports science point of view and a sharpness point of view, and added to that the quality we have within the squad - the manager obviously feels he can chop and change.

"Up until Saturday, it's been successful. But the manager has worked very hard on the system and the style he wants to play."

till I suppose it still gives him at least another year in the job. By the time it comes around , he can always make up another excuse. First it was 3 months , then a year .....Next year ? Whats his excuse with Van Persie ?